COURSE CURRICULUM

L T TOTAL
Course Title: Environmental Law CREDIT
Credit Units: UNITS
04 01 04
Course Objectives:
The course is designed to equip the students:
 To get thorough knowledge of the historical evolution of the concepts of ‘environment’ and ‘conservation of environment’.
 To understand the significance of the subject as it is so closely inter-related with the sustenance of life on the earth.
 To understand the modern-day realities including problems associated with pollution, urbanization and unsustainable developmental
patterns, climate change, ecological imbalance and destruction of flora and fauna, etc.
 To realise that the future of earth is in the hands of the young generation and empowering them with the knowledge of environment and the
legal framework to protect the same.

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge about the concept of environment and its origin and development.
2. Knowledge about the concern over environment in the international framework.
3. Knowledge about the provisions in the Constitution and specific laws for the protection of environment.
4. Knowledge about the causes and types of pollution and the laws in relation to the conservation of the environment.
5. Knowledge about the emerging issues in the environment protection in the national and international spheres and identifying measures to
combat environmental problems.
Course Contents/Syllabus:

Modules Weightage Pedagogy SLO Reading Material

(%)

MODULE I: Introduction to the Concept Environmental

Law [Lecture: 12]
 Concept, Meaning and Definition of Environment Research, Online 1.2.3.4,5  S.C. Shastri,
20% Lecture, Discussion Environmental Law,
 Protection of Environment in the Ancient India, Medieval
India & British India based teaching.  P. Leelakrishnan,
Environmental Law in
 Common Law Principles for the Protection of Environment
India,
 Post Independent Environmental Awareness Movements in  Shibani Ghosh, Indian
India Environmental Law: Key
 Provisions under the CPC, IPC and CrPC for the Protection Concepts and Principles,
of Environment.  Jeffrey D. Sachs, Ki–
moon Ban, The Age of
Sustainable
Development.

MODULE II: Concern for The Environment at the

International Level [Lecture: 12]

 Origin of Environmental Law in the International Framework: Research, 1.2.3.4,5  Documents of Convention
Approaches and Principles Discussion based  World Commission on
 Stockholm Conference of 1972 and its Impact 20% teaching. Environment and
Development, Our
 The Brundtland Commission Report and the Concept of
Common Future, OUP
Sustainable Development Oxford, 1987
 Rio Conference of 1992 and its Impact  S.C. Shastri,
 Recent Developments in the International Environmental Environmental Law.
Jurisprudence.

Module III: Protection of Environment under the Indian

Legal Framework [Lecture: 12]
 Protection of Environment under the Constitution of India Suggestive, 1.2.3.4,5  S.C. Shastri,
 Role of Indian Judiciary in the Protection of the Environment Research, Environmental Law,
20% Discussion based  P. Leelakrishnan,
 Integration of Principles of International Environmental Law
teaching. Environmental Law in
into Indian Legal System
India,
 Environment Protection Act, 1986  Shibani Ghosh, Indian
 National Green Tribunal Environmental Law: Key
Concepts and Principles.

MODULE IV: Control of Pollution and Conservation of

Natural Resources [Lecture: 12]

 Environmental Pollution- Causes and Types 20% Suggestive, 1.2.3.4,5  S.C. Shastri,
 Transboundary Pollution including Marine Pollution Research, Environmental Law,
 Law in relation to the Protection of Forest and Wildlife Discussion based  P. Leelakrishnan,
 Human Rights and Environment teaching. Environmental Law in
 Desertification issues. India,
 Shibani Ghosh, Indian
Environmental Law: Key
Concepts and Principles.

MODULE V: Emerging Issues [Lecture: 12]

 Conservation of Biodiversity
 Tackling Climate Change Research, 1.2.3.4,5  S.C. Shastri,
 Access and Benefit Sharing Discussion based Environmental Law,
 Public Participation and Environment Impact Assessment
20% teaching.  P. Leelakrishnan,
 Recommendations for Sustainable Living. Environmental Law in
India,
 Shibani Ghosh, Indian
Environmental Law: Key
Concepts and Principles.

Pedagogy for Course Delivery:

 ➢ Lecture Method
➢ Case Study Analyses Method
➢ Online Lecture Method

Assessment/ Examination Scheme:

Theory L/T (%) Total

100 100

Theory Assessment (L&T):

Continuous Assessment/Internal Assessment

Components (Drop Project and Viva Attendance Tem Test End Term
down) Examination

Weightage (%) 20 05 15 60

Readings:
1. D’ Monte, Darryl, Temples or Tombs? Industry versus Environment: Three Controversies, Centre for Science and Environment, Delhi
(1985).
2. Indian Law Institute, Environment Protection Act: An Agenda for Implementation, Thripathy, Bombay, (1987).
3. P. Leelaksrishnan, Environmental Law Case Book, Lexis Nexis, New Delhi, (2004).
4. Shyam Diwan and Armin Rozencranz, Environmental Law and Policy in India, Cases, Materials and Statutes, Oxford.
5. S.P. Sathe, Administrative Law, Butterworths India, New Delhi, (1998).
6. C.S. Shastri, Environmental Law, Eastern, Lucknow, 2004.
7. Shibani Ghosh, Indian Environmental Law: Key Concepts and Principles.
8. World Commission on Environment and Development, Our Common Future, OUP Oxford, (1987).
9. Tuomas Kuokkanen, Ed Couzens, Tuula Honkonen, Melissa Lewis, International Environmental Law-making and Diplomacy: Insights and
Overviews.
 10. Jeffrey D. Sachs, Ki–moon Ban, The Age of Sustainable Development.
11. Pierre-Marie Dupuy, Jorge E. Viñuales, International Environmental Law, Cambridge University Press; 2nd edition 2018.
12. Philippe Sands, Jacqueline Peel, Principles of International Environmental Law, Cambridge University Press; 3rd edition 2012.
13. Daniel Bodansky, Jutta Brunnée, Lavanya Rajaman, International Climate Change Law, OUP Oxford 2017.

Additional References

Statutes
1. Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
2. Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
3. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
4. Indian Forest Act, 1927
5. Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
6. Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
7. Bio-diversity Act, 2002
8. National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
9. Environment Impact Assessment Notifications.
10. Coastal Regulation Zone Notifications.
11. Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.
International Legal Instruments
1. Stockholm Declaration on the Human Environment, 1972.
2. UN Declaration on the Right to Development, 1986.
3. The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, 1992.
4. Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992.
5. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 1992.
6. Agenda 21: Programme of Action for Sustainable Development.
7. Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 1997.
8. Ramsar Convention on Wetlands 1971.
9. Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development, 2002.
10. Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing, 2010.
11. United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, 2012.
12. Paris Agreement, 2015.
13. Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973.
14. Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution, 1979.
 15. Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous
16. Wastes and their Disposal, 1979.

Leading Cases
1. Municipal Corporation, Ratlam V. Vardhichand AIR 1980 SC 1622.
2. M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (Oleum Gas Leak Case), AIR 1987 SC 965.
3. M.C. Mehta V. Union of India (Taj Trapezium Case) (1997)2 SCC 353.
4. Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra, Dehradun V. State of Uttar Pradesh AIR 1987 SC 2187
5. Sachidanand Pandey V. State of West Bengal AIR 1987 SC 1109.
6. Subhash Kumar V. State of Bihar and Ors. 1991 1 SCC 598
7. M.C. Mehta V. Kamal Nath and Ors. (1997)1 SCC 388.
8. Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum vs Union of India & Ors., (1996)5 SCC 647.
9. A. P. Pollution Control Board V. M. V. Nayudu (1994)3 SCC 1.
10. Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action V. Union of India (Bichhri Case/ H- Acid Case) AIR 1999 SC 1502
11. Research Foundation for Science Technology and Natural Resource Policy V. Union of India and Others (2007)13 SCC 186.
12. T. N. Godhavarman Cases
13. M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (Ganga Pollution Case) AIR 1988 SC 1115.
14. M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (Kanpur Tanneries Case) (1987) 4 SCC 463.